AX.—THE GEOMETRIDAE. 99 
minent and double projection on the outer margin of the median 
band, the conspicuous dark sub-apical streak and much greyer 
hind-wings. 
Deseribed and figured from a specimen kindly lent to 
me by Mr. Philpott. 
HYDRIOMENA PURPURIFERA. 
(Cidaria purpurifera, Fer., N.Z. Journ. Sci. i., 531; Trans. N.Z. 
Inst. xvi., 119; Meyr., ib. 75.) 
(Plate XII., fig. 45 9.) 
This very beautiful insect has been taken in the North 
Island at Mount Egmont and Ohakune, and in the South 
Island at Mount Arthur, Mount Hutt, Castle Hill, Otira, 
Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu and Invereargill. 
The expansion of the wings is from 1 to 14 inches. The 
fore-wings are rather bright green; there is a darker area near 
the base, a very broad purplish-brown central band, with a large 
square projection on the middle of its outer edge; above this 
projection there is a very conspicuous white mark, bordering the 
central band; the remainder of the wing is green; there is a 
wavy white subterminal line, and an oblique bluish-black mark 
near the apex. The hind-wings are pale brownish-ochreous. 
Varies slightly in the depth and intensity: of the 
eolouring. The hind-wings range from ochreous-brown to 
whitish-ochreous. 
This species is closely allied to Hydriomena rixata, but 
easily distinguished by its brighter ereen colouring, pur- 
plish central band with square projection, and broad white 
marking beyond the central band. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
and frequents forest at elevations of from 1,000 to 3,000 
feet. It is found in drier situations than the next species, 
and is not confined to forest streams. It’ is attracted by 
blossoms, and, although common in certain localities, is 
not nearly so generally distributed as Hydriomena rixata. 
This insect rests on tree-trunks with its wings half 
extended, the fore-wings covering the hind-wings and the 
tip of the abdomen elevated. In this position it resembles 
a moderate-sized lichen. 
HYDRIOMENA RIXATA. 
(Cidaria rixata, Feld., pl. exxxii. 1; Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 
xvi., 75. Coremia squalida, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii, 505.) 
(Plate XII., fig. 48 @ North Island form; 44 @ South Island 
form.) 
This pretty insect is very common, and generally dis- 
tributed throughout the country. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings 
have a dull green patch near the base, with numerous dull brown 
and dull white transverse lines; there is a very broad blackish- 
brown central band paler in the middle, but almost black at the 
edges; this band has a large rounded projection on its outer 
edge near the middle, and below this projection it is deeply 
indented; the remainder of the wing is dull yellowish-green 
with several brown and white transverse lines; one of the white 
lines is more conspicuous than the rest and very wavy; there 
is a shaded oblique black mark from the apex. The hind-wings 
are very pale ochreous-brown; there are a few obscure brownish 
transverse lines near the dorsum and a terminal series of faint 
crescentic marks. 
Specimens from the South Island are very much 
duller in colour than, those from the North Island, and 
the hind-wings of the southern form are grey in place of 
ochreous-brown, but beyond this there are no important 
variations. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
and frequents the overhanging banks of streams in densely 
wooded ravines, where it often occurs in the utmost pro- 
fusion. 
HYDRIOMENA SIMILATA. 
(Cidaria similata, Walk., Cat. xxv., 1413. Oidaria timarata, Feld. 
pl. exxxii. 19. Cidaria similata, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 
xoview Gs) 
(Plate XII., fig. 46 @;-Plate II., fig. 2 larva.) 
This beautiful species has occurred at Napier, Wai- 
marino, and Wellington in the North Island, and at Christ- 
church, Otira, Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu and Invercargill 
in the South Island. It has also been taken at Stewart 
fsland and in the Chatham Islands. 
The expansion of the wings is 14 inches. The fore-wings 
are dark ‘greyish-brown or purplish-brown, with the veins and 
margins broadly marked with bright green; there are numerous 
irregular wavy blackish streaks forming three very ill-defined 
darker transverse bands; the first at the base; the second from 
about one-fourth to two-thirds, usually with a paler central area; 
and the third near the termen outwardly edged with white. 
There is a series of fine black terminal marks and the cilia are 
dark brown. The hind-wings are cream-coloured tinged with 
very pale reddish-brown, darker towards the dorsum, with 
numerous pale brown wavy transverse lines. There is a series 
of black crescentic marks on the termen, and the cilia are pale 
reddish-brown. 
This species is rather variable. The spaces between 
the darker bands on the fore-wings are usually green, but 
in some specimens this is partially replaced by pale purplish 
brown. In one very striking variety from the extreme 
south the median band is wholly black. 
The larva, which feeds on Coprosma robusta and C. 
rotundifolia, is about 1 inch in length, rather stout, slightly . 
attenuated at each end; dull brown thickly speckled and 
streaked with blackish; the central portions of the three 
thoracic segments are green as well as a series of prominent 
dorsal ridges situated on the posterior margins of the other 
segments; the spiracles are black margined with white and 
the legs and prolegs pale green. Younger larvae have the 
dorsal ridges much less conspicuous, and whitish tubercles 
are often situated on segments 7, 8,9 and 10. This cater- 
pillar is extremely hard to detect, when resting motionless 
amongst its foodplant, as it so closely resembles a small 
mossy twig. It may be found throughout the whole of 
the summer, and, as half-grown specimens also occur in 
the early spring, it is evident that the species passes the 
winter in the larval condition, 


